State of the ATV3

Since the release of the ATV3 in March of this year we've received a ton of interest from folks wanting to get aTV Flash (black) up and running on their new devices. From a development standpoint the hardware was almost perfect...1080p capable, with a faster processor and more RAM...what else could you ask for? Well unfortunately the powers that be have not (yet) shared our enthusiasm for running 3rd party apps on the Apple TV, and the burden of jailbreaking these devices (in order to get apps onto them) has remained unchanged since the release of the ATV2 in 2010.

As you may recall we were very optimistic about the ATV3 when it originally launched back in March, and while this optimism remains unchanged it's clear things have not progressed as quickly as anyone would have liked. The biggest hurdle that has yet to be overcome is also the most essential - the jailbreak. While we tend to think of ourselves as pretty resourceful, the security related expertise that is required in order to release a jailbreak for iOS based devices like the ATV is just not in our wheelhouse, and we're simply left to encourage the capable few as best we can. No one is more anxious than us to get the ATV3 opened up to 3rd party apps, but due to the reasons mentioned above we're not able to provide any kind of release timeline right now.

With all that said, we still think an Apple TV with aTV Flash is the best bang for your buck media center on the market, and things will only improve once the ATV3 is ultimately opened up to apps (whether that be via a jailbreak or an official app store). However, this means that for the time being the fun will be limited to the ATV1 and ATV2 which are fully supported by the current versions of aTV Flash and aTV Flash (black) respectively. Both these models can easily be found on many sites such as Amazon and eBay, though the ATV2s usually carry a bit of a premium.

In closing, we're extremely grateful to all those who have continued to support us over the past few years, and even though we don't have an ATV3 version to announce at this point we do have a number of exciting new things in store for the remaining portion of 2012. Keep your eyes on this blog as well as our Twitter feed for all the details.

All the best.

-James

Comments

I think it's deceiving to write, "Apple TV 3 update in the works!" on the Flash Black product page. Please consider changing this to "We'll be ready with the software as soon as a jailbreak is available" (or similar) and link to this blog post. I bought the Apple TV 3 when it was first released in part because I'd found Firecore and was under the impression that Flash Black was right around the corner. I'm not upset - the ATV3 has been a great product for what it is and it was entirely my decision to make the purchase before Flash Black was available, but I think we both know that you're trying to keep the product page somewhat deceiving in order to keep interest in Flash Black (whose screenshots appear to be a phenomenal product) for a product that doesn't support it.

Seriously, you are making money with aTV Flash, so why don't you hire some iOS jailbreaker from the internet? You could fine some good ones in less than five minutes. It is not like you are taking it off your pocket.

Why couldn't Firecore have been honest and upfront and informed its customers earlier in the year that there is no jailbreak for ATV3 (ONLY for ATV1 and ATV2) then a lot of ATV3 customers wouldn't have been mislead into purchaseing the ATV Flash (Black)? This is the only criticism i have about Firecore. I'm sure they do a brilliant job at producing the ATV Flash once a jailbreak is avaiable but they have mislead me and many others. Will we get a free ATV Flash or will we have to pay another fee after our software runs out of date which is very shortly in my case?

aTV Flash for my ATV2 is one of the best purchases I have ever made. It truly amazes me Apple dont want to get in on the NAS streaming market OR allow great apps like this to be installed on the devices. The ATV without something like aTV Flash is not very exciting at all. 90% of our ATV2 use uses aTV Flash.

So I highly, highly, highly recommend the ATV2 and Firecore's aTV Flash are purchased, just do not bother with ATV3 until its jailbroken or Apple get some sense.

Why don't you people whining about how fire core misled them and crying about a jailbreak lay the blame where it belongs? The atv, while being an excellent companion for mirroring the iPad, is nothing short of a hockey puck in every other respect. Apple has intentionally engineered this device to require you, the end user to spend more money on their iTunes store in order to use your device. You made an informed decision when you made your purchase, now live with it, or send apple a message and don't buy it to begin with. Apple is the only company with a media player that requires you to pay them to use it. A company that has hoarded 120 billion dollars in cash, does not support their stock holders or any charities, yet you continue to feed this beast.

My GOD!!! Thank you so much guys!! Are you the only people who have any sense in this to far gone insane technology world. I couldn't agree anymore wholeheartedly!! Instead of Firecore periodically throwing in a few not needed apologies on the state of their utility, they don't seem to do F*** all!! You'd think a company with all it's resources and a nice looking, professional website would have taken onboard the task of procuring the jailbreak themselves. At least they could have made a fair few bucks and kept the reins on it for a while. Are they stupid or what?

I've kind of forgotten about the jailbreak for the ATV3 anyway. And don't really think it's needed anymore. It's just a conduit and I've been using it greatly as such. I really bought it for Airplay and it's amazing at that because Apple as the patent on that technology. If I want anything more substantial and waaaaay technical, I turn to my jailbroken iPad and then mirror it to the ATV3. I've even got XMBC on my iPad, so you see the need for the jailbreak to get all that juicy content on the ATV3 has well and truly expired. At least in my Tech World.

I bought the atv 3 when I knew there wasn't a jailbreak available. Big deal. $90 for a temporary paper weight is nothing to complain about. I'm still within my time frame to get my money back, but what's the point?

Everyone, go buy your atv 3's now before they double or triple in price! Otherwise you'll be stuck with an unjailbroken atv 4 and the saga repeats.

Wait a minute. I'm as anxious as anyone to see a jailbreak for the ATV3, but your accusations of requiring iTunes store purchases are unfounded. I am currently able to play all of my digital media library through the ATV3, and only about 5% of that is originally sourced from Apple. Any compatibly-formatted audio or video can be streamed via the (free) iTunes application. You might be upset that it doesn't natively support AVI/MKV/VOB etc., but this doesn't equate to forcing you to buy from Apple - there are plenty of free transcoders and translators available for media types iTunes cannot handle. Furthermore, what about the built-in apps for streaming Netflix and other content? These are not Apple-owned companies.

You may not find it to be your ideal device, and that's fine - you have the right to purchase and use any competing device instead - but don't spread false accusations to vent your frustrations.

Lovely! thank-you for summing it up so nicely. I own both atv2 (tv room), and an atv3 (bedroom). I have tried media players of various brands like WD, pop-corn hour, and more rcently dlink's boxee box. ATV is just a 100% solid device. aTV Flash (black) just made the atv2 even better. @JAMES (FireCore) - we appreciate your efforts and realize if it was possible, you guys wouldn't be short of doing the same for the aTV3. Thank you. For now I am getting by with Plex -> iPhone/iPad -> AirPlay-aTV

Just forget about the ATV3 and buy a good android box running XBMC with hardware decoding or get a $35 Raspberry Pi and install OpenElec. Come on, stop being a bunch of wniny apple fanboy tools - there is no jailbreak and who cares? Apple did this on purpose because they are the ones with the programmers on staff, so dont support their product, support an open platform where you can do all the same stuff.

Apple do not want to leave ATV3 blocked the entrance. Since the Chinese are very strong with Android, androidTV devices I've seen on $ 54. I have a ATV3, which I tried to Jailbreak and nothing. I wish you success, and have a gift of mine. as with the wii HBC.

Seas0nPass page talks about jailbreaking Apple TV 5.0.2 (iOS 5.1.1). What about the latest ATV firmware, 5.1.1, which I assume is iOS 6.0.1? I restored my ATV last month due to stability issues with the jailbreak, and would like to reinstall ATV Flash ASAP. Thx.

He is not whining. The firecore website advertised "coming soon" for Apple TV 3 back in April. They should not have advertised that. The cautious folks took a wait-and-see approach, but some believed it truly was coming soon. However, Firecore offers a refund period and anybody who bought for ATV3 and let that trial period expire without seeing a jail break come definitely should have taken advantage of the refund policy.